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| Nephew death drink-driver jailed | Nephew death drink-driver jailed |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A drink-driver who caused his teenage nephew's death when he crashed while double the legal limit in Aberdeenshire has been jailed for seven years. | |
| John Ball, 36, lost control of his car on the B999 while driving a few hours after a night out in July 2007. | |
| His 18-year-old passenger Shaun Eaton from Mastrick, Aberdeen, was pronounced dead after the crash. | His 18-year-old passenger Shaun Eaton from Mastrick, Aberdeen, was pronounced dead after the crash. |
| Ball, who was jailed at the High Court in Dunfermline, admitted causing his nephew's death by dangerous driving. | Ball, who was jailed at the High Court in Dunfermline, admitted causing his nephew's death by dangerous driving. |
| Fellow motorists who saw Ball, of Pitmedden, described his driving as "idiotic" and "ridiculous". | Fellow motorists who saw Ball, of Pitmedden, described his driving as "idiotic" and "ridiculous". |
| The court was told Ball wished to apologise unreservedly to his sister for what he had done. | The court was told Ball wished to apologise unreservedly to his sister for what he had done. |
| He understands no punishment can atone for his actions or bring back his nephew. If he could turn back time, he would Tim Niven-SmithDefence advocate | |
| Shaun's mother Fiona Willox left the courtroom in tears. | |
| Outside court, she said: "He got what he deserved. What was said in court wasn't an apology." | |
| Ball had returned to Scotland only the day before the crash, after working in Azerbaijan as a supervisor in the gas industry, and had been drinking with old school friends. | |
| He stayed up until the early hours, then got up to give Shaun, an Aberdeen College computing student, a lift to work in Aberdeen, where he had a summer job. | |
| David Griffiths, prosecuting, said Ball lost control at a gentle left-hand bend. | |
| 'No comfort' | |
| He said: "The car struck the nearside verge, crossed the single carriageway, hit a fencepost and cart-wheeled into a field. | |
| "Mr Eaton was killed instantly when the car hit the fencepost, suffering a massive head injury." | |
| "At the time he was driving, he would have been no less than double the limit." | |
| The car hit a fencepost and cart-wheeled into a field | |
| Defence advocate Tim Niven-Smith said: "He accepts that excessive speed was a major issue in this accident and that alcohol was involved. | |
| "He understands no punishment can atone for his actions or bring back his nephew. | |
| "He has instructed me to unreservedly apologise to his sister - the mother of the deceased - and his extended family for his actions. | |
| "He recognises this will provide little or no comfort. If he could turn back time, he would." | |
| Passing sentence, Lord Emslie said: "Nothing the court can do can atone for the death of a young man on the brink of his adult life. | |
| "You were speeding over a considerable distance on a minor road which you knew to have bad bends. | |
| "To make matters worse, you were twice the drink-drive limit." | |
| In addition to the jail term, Ball was disqualified from driving for 10 years. |